8 July 2025
Thinking about studying medicine? Bucksmore’s English and Medicine summer courses offer immersive introductions to healthcare for international students aged 13 to 17. We spoke with Dr Kal Vadi, a lead educator on our Young Professionals – Medical English programme, to give you a clear picture of the course and what students can expect.
Young Professionals vs Pre-University Medicine: What’s the difference?
Bucksmore offers two distinct healthcare programmes designed for different age groups and educational goals.
Young Professionals – Medical English Summer Camp
This course is for international students aged 13 to 17, with intermediate English. It provides a foundation-level introduction to healthcare. Kal explains, “This course is aimed at building fundamental knowledge of key healthcare systems and therefore it is perfectly accessible for a student who has never learnt any medical skills before.” Held at King’s College London, it includes practical workshops, structured lessons and a major team project, all within a supportive summer school environment.
Pre-University Medicine Course
This programme is intended for students aged 15 to 18 with upper-intermediate English. It is more academically intensive and is delivered in a university-style format, including tutorials, independent research and case-based study. Hosted at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, it is suited to students “who are thinking about studying medicine or a related subject”, and who want insight into the academic and professional demands of a medical career.
What the Young Professionals course looks like
The two-week course combines academic instruction, career insight and cultural experience.
Students attend practical and theoretical sessions covering a range of topics:
- Respiratory system
- Cardiovascular system
- Nervous system
- Urinary system
- Digestive system
- Medical ethics and professionalism
Kal says, “Students have the opportunity to take part in multiple practicals, giving them hands-on experience within the medical field.” These include:
- A visit to a state-of-the-art e-simulation suite, where students use a Sim Man simulator to practise A-B-C-D-E assessments for managing acute emergencies.
- A surgical skills workshop, where students “learn how to suture, gaining skills in various techniques necessary for wound closure and other surgical procedures”.
A standout feature is the Capstone Project, where students act as healthcare innovators, working in teams to develop a pharmaceutical product.
According to Kal,“There are various project phases that students will work through over the course of the two weeks starting with discovery and conceptualisation as well as formulating and designing the drug to drug naming and branding.”
Final outputs include a proposal, prototype, packaging design, pitch presentation and a written report.
This project helps students “explore the concepts of clinical commissioning, cost-effectiveness and patient-centric outcomes in a fun and educational setting”.
What the Pre-University Medicine course looks like
While Kal is not a tutor on this programme, Bucksmore outlines the course as a more academically rigorous experience for students preparing for higher education. It includes:
- University-style instruction in both pre-clinical and clinical topics
- In-depth case study discussions and guided independent research
- A deeper focus on theoretical medicine and critical thinking
- Immersive Oxbridge-style experiences including tutorials and formal hall dining
This course is ideal for students with a confirmed interest in medicine or healthcare fields who are ready to begin thinking seriously about university applications and future careers.
Learning by Doing: Hands-On Medicine
Kal shared how students respond to the course’s practical elements, particularly simulation and surgical skills workshops. On dissection specifically, he noted:
“Students often say the practicals are a highlight.” Many are excited by the opportunity to work with real anatomical material, and sessions are handled in a way that supports both emotional and intellectual engagement.
The Global Summer School Experience
Bucksmore’s summer camps bring together students from a wide range of cultural and academic backgrounds.
“Our teaching staff are very experienced and will be able to modify activities if certain students are looking for something more challenging,” Kal explains.
Students are housed with peers studying other subjects such as Business, Performing Arts and Graphic Design. Kal points out, “Although they may be drawn towards students with similar interests to them, they will all share living quarters, activities and cultural experiences together so tight bonds are made very quickly.”
However specialised the programme, everyone takes part in cultural activities and excursions including visits to iconic sites such as St Paul’s Cathedral, the British Museum and Buckingham Palace in London. There are planned activities at every moment of the day, and evening activities, which are chosen in consultation with students, might include bowling, sports or film nights.
The Impact: what students take away
“For students who are thinking about studying medicine or a related subject, this will likely require several years of training,” Kal says. “So taking this course will give you a sneak peek into the realities of the subject, either from a practical perspective through Young Professionals, or from a more theory-based, university-style experience on the Pre-University programme.”
Kal loves how students benefit from “intensive and immersive learning in the medical field”, which helps them decide whether medicine is a suitable path. They also gain valuable exposure by speaking directly with industry professionals and actual Oxbridge university students.
Find out more about the courses
Young Professionals – Medical English Summer Camp
- Ages 13 to 17
- Intermediate English
- Based at King’s College London
- Two-week courses starting 8 July and 22 July 2025
Pre-University Medicine Course
- Ages 15 to 18
- Upper-intermediate English
- Based at St Hilda’s College, Oxford
- Two or four-week courses from 8 July and 22 July 2025
Bucksmore’s medical summer programmes offer international students a rare chance to explore healthcare from multiple angles – academic, practical and personal.
Whether just beginning to explore healthcare careers or preparing for university, you’ll leave with new insights, new friendships and a clearer vision of their future.
Please contact us if you have any questions about this or any other Bucksmore course. We’ll be happy to help you. You can also check out our Medical English TikTok!